Dutch girls in particular are suffering from anxiety, poor sleep and problems concentrating due to their use of social media, according to a new report by national statistics office CBS.

The research shows one in six 12 to 18-year-olds say they cannot function without access to Facebook, WhatsApp or YouTube and 4% actually prefer digital to physical contact.

Almost half the teenagers questioned said social media has a ‘negative’ impact on one or more parts of their lives. One in five says their school work has been affected, one in four says they don’t sleep enough and almost four in 10 say they have concentration problems.

In total, 13% of boys admit to being addicted to social media, compared with 22% of girls. Some 14% of girls say they spend five hours or more on social media every day, compared with 6% of boys.

Girls are also more likely to feel uneasy or uncomfortable if they can’t get online and anxious if their messages are not ‘liked’ or forwarded to others, the CBS said.